Abstract: The old Yellow River delta is associated with muddy coastlines and one of the most severe erosion areas in China. Based on the regional topographic maps, charts, historical atlas, satellite remote sensing images and historical literature, a geodatabase of coastlines was established by GIS/RS technology and statistic principles. Quantitative information of coastline changes was synthesized by using the superposition of different periods of coastline data. The coastlines in consideration have experienced a stable stage from the Chunqiu Period to Northern Song Dynasty and a rapid progradation after Northern Song Dynasty; since then, the coastlines were subjected to another retreating event and become presently gradually stabilized. This process was under the control of the Yellow River changing its course. Since 1989, the main eroding area is located between the Zhongshan River mouth to the Biandan River mouth. Retrogradation rate varied in different parts, which is lower in the north of the old Yellow River mouth than in the south. The areas to the north of the Zhongshang River mouth and to the south of the Kuatao River mouth are siltation dominated. These differences were affected by coastal topography and human activities